Foot-pump



W. F. SERVICE.

FOOT PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2. 191?. RENEWED SEPT. 30. 1919.

1,348,058, PatentedJuly 27, 1920.

INVENTOR UNITED TAT 5,

PATENT- OFFICE.

WILLIAM moausnnvrcnor PoUqH EPsIE, vnwyonx; AssrGNoR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CHARLES HARDY AND CHARLES H. roman, BOTH on NEW YORK, N. Y.

Application filed July 2, 1917, Serial No. 178,082.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAMF. SERVICE, residing at Poughkeepsie, in the .county of Duchess and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Pumps, of which the follow- -ing is a specification.

The invention relates to a pump and particularly to a pump which is adapted to be operated preferably by the operators foot for compressing air. 7 I

An object of theinvention is to provide a pump whichJshall be particularly suit able for the inflation of automobile tires and the like, being readily carried with the car and forming a fixture thereof, is desired.

A further object-is to provide a pump for use where power devices are not available and which willbe convenient in operating and simple and effective in its action, eliminating the tiresome hand pumping; also, to afford a light, compact and satisfactory device whichmay be operated by foot.

A further object isto provide a foot operated pump having its several parts so correlated that the likelihood of the pump being upset during operation is reduced to a minimum.

A further object is to provide a pump having the above characteristics and which at the same time comprises no special supporting frame for'movably supporting the cylinder. c c

A further. object is 'to provide a pump in which the main or body portion consists of a single integral piece of metallic tubing of appropriate lengthand serves the purpose both of pump cylinder and guide for a cross-head device fixed to the end of the piston rod spaced from the piston.

A further object is to provide a device which may be folded into small space and which when folded has its parts so tensioned as to avoid likelihood of rattling against each other.

Other objects and aims of therinvention,

more or less specific than those referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part I pointed out in the course ofthe following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles, constituting the invention, and

Specification of LetterPatent.

FOOT-PUMP.

Patented July 27, 1920;

Renewed September 30, 1919. Serial No. 327,476.

the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which are corresponding parts throughout the several Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a cylinder of the proper diameter and length, and having therein a reciprocable piston ll for effecting the compression of the. contained air, as is well understood. One end of the cylinder, 10 is closed byfa suitable cap/or the like 12,"having an outlet .valve 13 for outside connection. The

other end of thecylind er has fixed thereto a cap 15 having lateral lugs 16 at the bottom, said lugs providing bearings for a' pin 17. The pin 17 provides a rotatable support or fulcrum .for a foot lever 18, which is directed a suitable distance backwardly over the cylinder to provide the necessary leverage, and carries at its outer end a foot piece 19 upon which pressure is to be exerted by the foot of the operator.

WVithin the cylinder 10 is mounted a crossh'ead 20' or other recipro'cable member, the same being fixedly secured to the piston 11 to reciprocate said piston, through the action of a toggle device, from the foot lever 18. For this purpose, a portion of the upper surface of the cylinder is provided with a. slot 21' to allow the passage of links 22 which connect the crosshead 20 with the lever 18. ,By' depressing the foot lever 18, therefore, (to the position shown in full lines, Fig. l) the piston 11' willbe caused to move'toward the cap 12, and compress andforce the contained air outwardly through the valve 13.

It is to be noted, furthermore, that'the particular arrangement set forth provides for the maximum effort being exerted upon the lever '18, when the compression'of the air in the cylinder 10 is the greatest, thereby securing very efficient action without unduly tiring the operator; also, that the movements of the lever 18 take place en'- tirely over the apparatus and on the piston side of the leven. This greatly reduces the tendency to lift or upset the pump dur ing normal operation for the reason that the pressure naturally exerted at the erfll of the foot lever is applied to the pump support entirelywithin the regions of the pump. Furthermore, the force to reciprocate the piston is exerted at the most efficient point, viz. directly on the crosshead 20 and at the central portion thereof.

Any means suitably placed may be employed to normally urge the foot lever toward its upper position. As an example of an arrangementv for this purpose the drawing illustrates a pair of springs 23 coiled about the pin 17, one end of each engaging the cap and the other end being extended upwardly along the lever 18and secured to same.

When the pump is not in use, the footlever 18 may be conveniently folded down upon the cylinder 10 and held in this position by means of a catch 24 pivotally attached thereto and adapted to engage a pin 25 held between the two links 22.

lVith the lever 18 'thus swung, or folded down against the cylinder the whole device occupies very small space and the pressure of the springs serves to hold the catch 24: against accidental disconnection and also holds all of the parts under tension so that there is no opportunity for the parts to rattle. This is a very important advantage particularly in connection with the use of the pump for automobile purposes, since it enables the pump to be readily carried about in a small tool box without objectionable noise and rattle resulting from movement of its component parts relative to each other. The pressure of the springs, in tending to lift the lever 18, tends also to swing up vWardly the links 22 and with them the crosshead 20. This tendency is overcome by engagement of the crosshead against the upper wallof the cylinder.

The cylinder 10 is preferably made from a single piece of metallic tubing cut in appropriate length and fitted at its opposite ends with the caps 12 and 15. This single piece of tubing constitutes the pump cylinder in which moves the piston 11 and it also serves as anideal guide for the crosshead 20;

The crosshead is preferably spaced a considerable distance from the piston 11 and is connected to the piston by a piston rod 26. The connection of the piston and crosshead at the opposite ends of the rod 26 is, of course, rigid so that both the piston and the crosshead are held in appropriate relation to each other and to the walls of the cylinder. The piston rod supported by the crossport.

head maintains the piston in its appropriate -other important functions than that merely of supporting the pivot shaft 17 namely, that it suitably strengthens and reinforces the end of the cylinder which has been weakened by the cutting away of material to form' the slot 21 in the cylinder. Except for this strengthening and reinforcingvalue the cylinder must necessarily be made of comparatively heavier and stronger material than is required in the presence of the reinforcing cap. The cap 15 furthermore is shaped to provide fiat under surface portions 27 disposed to constitute a footing or. rest at the end of the cylinder for holding the cylinder against rolling during operation. The surfaces 27 are admirably placed for serving this result since they are'positioned in close proximity to the pivotal mounting of, the foot lever and at opposite sides of the vertical plane of the lever.

The position of the springs 23 one at each side'of the lever 18 and between the lever and the lugs 16 enables the springs to serve as centering means for the lever to maintain the lever substantially midway between the V lugs and in cooperative alinement with the slot 21. The added purpose thus assigned to the springs avoids the necessity for extra parts to perform this function, and thus makes for simplicity withoutsacrifice of appearance or efficiency.

W hen it is desired to operate the pump, the cylinder should preferably, though not necessarily, be laid horizontally upon a suitable fiat support with the two flat surfaces 27 and the lowermost surface of the cap 12 resting at three spaced points upon the sup- Then by releasing the catch 24 the lever will be free to move back and forth toward and away from the cylinder. The movements away from the cylinder are automatically accomplished by the springs 23 so that the lever will naturally follow the up? ward movements of the operators foot, and thus allow the springs to retract the crosshead and piston.

7 been found'to give thoroughly satisfactory results under certain conditions.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A foot pump, comprising a rigidly mounted cylinder and a piston movable therein, a lever provided with a foot piece and directed backwardly over the cylinder toward the outlet end thereof to close down on the cylinder, said lever being pivotally secured to said cylinder at its opposite end, resilient means to normally hold said lever in raised position, a crosshead reciprocable in said cylinder, attached to said piston and movable to the lever end of the cylinder, and a link forming a toggle connection between said cross head and the foot lever and passing through a slot in a portion of the upper surface of said cylinder to reciprocate the piston when the said foot lever is actuated.

2. A foot pump, comprising a rigidly mounted cylinder and a piston movable therein, a cap secured to one end of said cylinder, a pin mounted therein, a lever secured about said pin and directed backwardly over the cylinder toward the opposite and outlet end thereof to close down on the cylinder, springs coiled about said pin, one end thereof being attached to the cap and the other end to said lever to normally hold the latter in raised position, a crosshead reciprocable in said cylinder, attached to said piston and movable to the cap end of the cylinder, and a link forming a toggle connection between said crosshead and the foot lever and passing through a slot in a portion of the cylinder wall to reciprocate the piston when the said foot lever is actuated.

3. In a pump the combination of a cylinder, a piston movable within the cylinder, an operating lever and connections between said operating lever and the piston whereby to operate the piston by the operating lever, the operating lever being mounted upon a pivot which is stationary with respect to the cylinder and being adapted to swing toward and away from the cylinder into and out of position over-lapping the cylinder, resilient means urging the lever in one direction, and retaining means operable to interengage between the lever and a part of said connections between the lever and the piston to retain said lever and said connections against movement by said resilient means, and to thereby place both said lever and said connections under tension for the purpose set forth.

4. In a pump the combination of a cylinder, a piston movable within the cylinder, an operating lever, and connections between said operating lever and the piston whereby to operate the piston by the operating lever, a slidably guided cross-head being comprised in the connections between the piston and the operating lever, means resiliently urging the operating lever toward one of its positions, and retaining means for retaining the lever against movement by said resilient means, said retaining means being operable to inter-engage between the lever and a portion of said connections in a manner to apply the tension of said resilient means to hold said cross-head pressed against its guide.

5. In a pump the combination of a relatively stationary cylinder and a plurality of relatively movable parts connected therewith including a member slidable longitudinally within the cylinder being guided by the walls of the cylinder, means to slide said member, means operable at will to hold said operating means against operation and to hold said slidable member tensioned against one wall of the cylinder.

6. A pump comprising a cylinder, a piston movable within the cylinder, an operating lever, a connecting member connected with the lever extending through an opening into the cylinder and into connection with the piston, a pivot pin upon which the lever is mounted, a pair of lugs carried by the cylinder spaced apart and spaced from opposite sides of the lever serving to support the opposite ends of the pivot pin, and resilient means carried by the pivot pin at I opposite sides of the lever and between said lugs engaging the lever to serve the double purpose of urging the lever to one position of swing and of retaining the lever in deslired relation to the opening into the cyliner.

7. A pump comprising a cylinder, a pis ton movable within the cylinder, an operating lever, connections extending between the operating lever and the piston to operate the piston by the lever, a cap fixed at one end of the cylinder, a pair of lugs formed upon said cap spaced apart providing spaced leg portions to engage a suitable support, and a pivot pin extending between and engaging said lugs constituting a pivotal support for the lever.

Signed at Poughkeepsie in the county of Dutchess and State of New York this 26th day of June, A. D. 1917.

WILLIAM FFORD SERVICE. 

